Mix Argh!!

[DesireeBowen]

I am so frustrated. I finished a song recently, it sounds really good through the headphones, but when I posted it on myspace and listened to it through my mac speakers, it sounded horrible! The vocals sound way loud, but they don't through the headphones. What am I doing wrong?!? I have the song, Catching Kisses, posted on Peer to Peer right now, or you can just click my website under my signature. Thanks!

[davewalton]

I am so frustrated. I finished a song recently, it sounds really good through the headphones, but when I posted it on myspace and listened to it through my mac speakers, it sounded horrible! The vocals sound way loud, but they don't through the headphones. What am I doing wrong?!? I have the song, Catching Kisses, posted on Peer to Peer right now, or you can just click my website under my signature. Thanks!

In general... don't mix using headphones. I'd bet that if you polled 50 recording studios and asked how many of them do their mixing using headphones, you'd find that none of the 50 do that.

For under $300 you can get something like Alesis M1 Active MKII reference monitors (just happens to be what I use). One of my best "investments" has been a good set of reference monitors so that when I mix and the mix sounds good on these, it sounds good everywhere.

There are other monitors to consider at that price range and above but at least I wanted to give you an idea of what you might want to be looking at.

Hope that helps,

Dave

[fret17]

Hi Desiree...not sure what went wrong there...could be your phones aren't giving you a true audio signal ....If they are really good head phones then something went wrong with the down load....personally, I record with head phones, but when I create a mix for a finished product to be sent into a computer , to be turned into an mp3, I monitor all the tracks through a mixing board set at flat levels first while monitoring that sound through speakers.I make several different mp3's making subtle changes each time to what I want to hear more or less of. I eventually arrive to an mp3 that sounds pretty good in headphones, home stereos, in the car..etc...I should also add that I'm still old school and my gear is mostly anolog (non Digital) because I feel comfortable with my process and I perfer anolog's warmth....but the principle is still the same to try different settings for different results....eventually you will arrive to a process and aproach that works for you that you'll use every time there after....I hope this helped somewhat...some of the guys here really know their tech stuff and could probably do a better job helping you with it...good luck

[DesireeBowen]

Thanks so much for the suggestions! Unfortunately I can't invest much money right now- my next big purchase is going towards some better samples. Will have to add those monitors to the long list of technology I want (does it ever end?!? lol). I'm going to work on it more tomorrow and will mix WITHOUT the headphones! You would think that might have occurred to me.... but no... lol

[DesireeBowen]

Fret- I know this is probably a really, really dumb question... but what is the difference between analog and digital? :::hides her non-technological head in embarassment:::

[bigbluebarry]

Hey Desiree,

Another thing that you can do that doesn't cost you a penny is to A/B your mixes against recordings of songs that are similar to yours in style and genre. Find some songs that you really like, particularly the mix/production aspects. Listen to them in the same setting that you're mixing your songs in. Compare the various aspects, such as how much bass are you hearing in their tracks versus yours, etc...

hth,
- Big Blue

[Len911]

Everything is analog until it is converted to ones and zeros that a computer can understand, or digital. So a singer sings in analog, the mic picks it up in analog, the preamp hears it in analog, right through the rest of the chain before it is translated to digital via A/D converter or analog-to-digital converter, to the computer and is stored as wave, aiff, mp3, etc. When you play back the song, it goes through a D/A or digital-to-analog converter, to an analog amp, to the analog speakers or headphones. So basically analog is signal waves of various frequencies, digital is on or off (ones and zeros) that uses micro transistors for switching. Algorithms are basically the mathematical characteristic that determines how much of an analog signal is translated into digital, the more the math, the closer to the original analog. The bits and sampling frequency are part of the algorithms.
An entire analog system, therefore, doesn't use computers or digital, only tubes, transistors, or items that pass and process analog signals to a magnetic medium of some sort, tapes, vinyl etc. So basically everyone uses both mediums in one stage or another, and to various degrees (unless they are never put in a computer).

[Len911]

FWIW, I listened to both songs "Catching Kisses" and "I'm Fascinated", and I didn't think they were at all too loud or horrible. They were
very sweet, clear and upfront. Reverb on the voice might set it a little back in the track, but I don't think it is necessary, I would rather they be like they are rather than swimming in reverb or a cheap metallic reverb, not that you would have them swimming,lol! The songs in their context were done very well, they are clear and upbeat, I suppose if you wanted dirtier or grittier vocals you would have to do something different to darken them up, but they were very cheerful and sweet that seemed right for the songs. "Catching Kisses" as they are recorded sounded more like what I hear currently on the tv in shows and commercials, and I believe if they had a darker, grittier tone they would sound more like a Doris Day, a favorite of mine btw. I think you have probably just overly focused on your vocal s when you were listening on the mac speakers, and they sounded different. I have done the same, we probably all have at one time, I nearly died when I heard my mom listening to me on her cheap Dell computer speakers! The thing is, everyone gets used to hearing something on whatever system they have, and everything is all in relation to everything else on the same system, whether 99cent speakers or a nine thousand dollar setup. You can hear pitch problems on any system, a fly fart on a high dollar system, and bass can be a real problem on 99cent speakers. If you mix to the lowest common denominator you should be fine. Hopefully the overall effect of your music will make the fly fart less noticeable,lol!

[ernstinen]

In general... don't mix using headphones. I'd bet that if you polled 50 recording studios and asked how many of them do their mixing using headphones, you'd find that none of the 50 do that.

Yup, Dave and I are kindred spirits! Since I've been nailed to my "home" studio, I've been mixing on phones. Doesn't work! Headphones are great for a final "reference," that is panning, reverbs, etc., but ya gotta have some serious (could be cheap!) monitors. My phones might be "flat," but after a few hours you lose all reference to "the real world!" When I hook up some "real" monitors (in my case, KRK V6's,) I can hear all my mistakes I've done on phones. Gonna get back to my studio soon, and listen through my golden oldie Yamaha NS-10s! Now, THOSE will give you the true detail, especially in the midrange!

Anyway Desiree, that is a really catchy song with a nice vocal. Really sweet sound to your voice. I just think it needs more input/output volume from your DAW. It catches the sound of a cool song from the 50s/60s, but doesn't have the clarity and punch that you can accomplish.

What program are you using to record in? Maybe with more detail on how you're recording, Dave & I (et al) can give you some pointers!

Nice work!

Ern

[Kolstad]

Desiree, you can work towards getting good heads and speakers to get the most natural representation possible, yes, when you get really good that'll definitely help you..

But, when just starting out, I suggest you try mixing on your crappy pc speakers (I still do that from time to time).

Most listeners will hear your stuff on similar applications, so if your mix sound right to you on those, it will most likely sound even better on good speakers (also those giving you 'true' sound).

It's about putting the horse in front of the carriage